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tuma's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I'm not sure what I expected from this book, but not this. Maybe if I had listened to the song it's inspired by, "Goodbye Earl" by the Dixie Chicks, I would have been better prepared and less frustrated. The book is broken up into three parts. Part 1 provides the backstory for the 4 female friends, alternating between present day (2019) and the past (2004). Normally, I love this in novels and I did enjoy how close the friends were and that they took care and accepted one another through thick and thin. But the friends were so vaguely described that they didn't feel like real people. I couldn't fully visualize them. It felt like the details shared were in order to check off diversity checkboxes (yes, one friend is a redhead, one is biracial, one is black and bisexual, and I still don't know what the 4th friend is).
And fine, not every book has to be character-driven, which is my usual jam and jelly, BUT then the plot has to draw me in. The plot was giving very much "YOU" (the TV show) where crimes are being committed all too easily as if it's NOT A BIG DEAL. Part 2, they kill a person. And I'm just like, WHAT?! You can't just kill a person, willy nilly, EVEN if they deserved it. And then everyone is completely okay with it and everything just ends perfectly and happily ever after...what?! I just couldn't suspend belief enough, but still had to finish it to see where it ended up. Part 3 is the aftermath and it was as predictable as expected. Everyone comes to terms with their pasts and problems. The end. I dunno, am I being too harsh? Maybe it's because I don't read enough thriller/mystery and I'm imposing literary fiction expectations of writing?
Overall, this is clearly a personal issue, so I would still recommend for anyone who enjoys female friendships set in small towns, and revenge plots where the women win (that part was awesome).
And fine, not every book has to be character-driven, which is my usual jam and jelly, BUT then the plot has to draw me in. The plot was giving very much "YOU" (the TV show) where crimes are being committed all too easily as if it's NOT A BIG DEAL. Part 2, they kill a person. And I'm just like, WHAT?! You can't just kill a person, willy nilly, EVEN if they deserved it. And then everyone is completely okay with it and everything just ends perfectly and happily ever after...what?! I just couldn't suspend belief enough, but still had to finish it to see where it ended up. Part 3 is the aftermath and it was as predictable as expected. Everyone comes to terms with their pasts and problems. The end. I dunno, am I being too harsh? Maybe it's because I don't read enough thriller/mystery and I'm imposing literary fiction expectations of writing?
Overall, this is clearly a personal issue, so I would still recommend for anyone who enjoys female friendships set in small towns, and revenge plots where the women win (that part was awesome).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Murder, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Addiction, and Biphobia
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